Well, I have been rejoicing for a couple of weeks, since the Iowa Supreme Court overturned a discriminatory marriage law (Section 595.2) and gave all couples, regardless of gender, the ability to be married in Iowa.
It seems that despite being a very conservative state, Iowans support equality and fairness to all people. It is written into their constitution, and when considering upholding or striking down the marriage exclusion bill, the court had no choice but to find the law unconstitutional.
(read the text of the court's decision here)
An excerpt from the decision: "Iowa Code section 595.2 is unconstitutional because the County has been unable to identify a constitutionally adequate justification for excluding plaintiffs from the institution of civil marriage. A new distinction based on sexual orientation would be equally suspect and difficult to square with the fundamental principles of equal protection embodied in our constitution."
In the days following this action in Iowa, the District of Columbia City Council voted unanimously to recognize same gender marriages performed elsewhere. Also, Vermont's legislature stood up to a gubernatorial veto on same-gender marriage- making their law the first in the country that has not involved legal action.
I know this is not the end of the chaos surrounding these laws, rather it is the beginning. I'm sure that the US Supreme Court is watching these measures and others like them (including California's Proposition 8) and preparing for the upcoming challenges and appeals.
It's just a matter of time people, and when it happens, society as we know it WILL NOT cease to exist. The only thing that will change is that all citizens and residents of the United States will be able to make a lifetime commitment to the adult partner of their choice.
I'm looking forward to being able to tell my grandchildren that I remember weeping with joy the day the tide turned. I remember how it used to be when our laws prevented all people from equal treatment. And I remember standing with all my friends, gay and straight, to celebrate the day it all changed. Oh yes, we will celebrate. Consider this your warning. Perhaps the uberconservatives will label our celebrations as the 'downfall of traditional society' or whatever, but I'm gonna party like CRAAAAAAAzy.
You see, the funny thing is, I have nothing personal to gain from this. I'm straight, married, and not particularly attracted to people of my same gender. But I'm pissed off that my country won't allow all people to act as responsible adults and make decisions for themselves. And I'm sick and tired of my friends and family members feeling devalued by society- sometimes being driven to suicide, drug abuse and other self-destructive behavior. It is wrong, and the clock is ticking.
Opponents of gay marriage always seem to fall back on a couple of arguments, which I will now address:
1) Homosexuality is immoral, therefore allowing homosexual marriages degrades the institution of marriage.
WHAT? leap of logic. There are plenty of heterosexual people that engage in every bit of the 'immoral' behavior that some homosexuals enjoy. Should those people be denied the right to marry as well? Who conducts the morality interviews? And who exactly gets to write the morality laws for the rest of the populace?
2) Gay marriage threatens the sanctity of marriage.
Again, I can't see a link. At all.
3) Homosexuals can't raise 'normal' children, their children will probably be damaged, broken and *gasp* gay.
Actually, the American Academy of Pediatrics found that "...there is no systematic difference between gay and nongay parents in emotional health, parenting skills, and attitudes toward parenting. No data have pointed to any risk to children as a result of growing up in a family with 1 or more gay parents..." (study link)
4) It's a slippery slope. Allowing gay marriage to change the definition of marriage will lead to people marrying children and barnyard animals. Where will it end?
Where will it end? Very simple: Consenting adults. Gays aren't looking to marry children or goats any more than straight people.
5) Why should gays get special rights and protections?
Special rights? You've got to be kidding me. The General Accounting Office of the US Federal Government found (in 2004, under Republican President George W. Bush) that there are 1138 benefits, rights and privileges that are given to straight married people that can not be given to people who are unmarried. Coupled with the Defense of Marriage Act (1996) that defines marriage as between one man and one woman, and homosexuals are automatically denied these rights. Silly little things like end-of-life decisions, tax advantages, Social Security, pensions, insurance benefits, next-of-kin status, etc.
I'm done ranting. The winds have changed, and I thought I'd gloat a bit.
2 comments:
The winds have changed indeed. I think the Vermont decision is actually more important in this discussion, because it means the right-wingers can't claim that gay marriage is being forced on a resistant public by "activist judges."
Vermont might be more important, but Iowa is the turning point.
The state's constitution is very clear on its non-discrimination clause. Now that the state supreme court has ruled against it, there's nowhere to go but up. And the US Supreme Court is required to consider a state's right to have its own constitution. They won't rewrite the state constitution.
In fact, I don't even hear any talk of this heading to the Supreme Court.
That 'activist judges' line is used by the same cut and paste conservinazis as the old 'unions are telling our school teachers what to do. The tea-party/dittohead/great American crowd are such blind followers it makes me sad and angry.
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